A couple who work in HMP Berwyn are preparing for another Christmas Day spent with inmates which will see them juggle a 100-strong prisoner park run with their daughter’s 15th birthday.

Juan and Lisa Mouton, from Wrexham, have both worked at the jail since 2017.

Juan, 41, a physical education trainer, will be spending Christmas morning overseeing a park run with 100 well-behaved prisoners who are serving time for all types of crime, from theft to murder, before rushing home for lunch and some quality family time.

Meanwhile, Lisa, 39, the prison’s custodial manager who is due to work a nightshift on New Year’s Day, will be celebrating their eldest daughter’s 15th birthday on Christmas Day, along with their three other children, who cannot be named for security reasons.

The couple say their children “know no different” and that when you are dealing with the “worst of society”, the trick is to leave your problems “at the gate”.

The Leader: Juan’s presence at work is required to oversee the Christmas morning park run (Collect/PA Real Life)Juan’s presence at work is required to oversee the Christmas morning park run (Collect/PA Real Life) (Image: (Collect/PA Real Life))“We have a shift pattern and outside of that we have to devise our own home shift pattern so that we know at any one time if one of us is in work the other one is off,” Lisa told PA Real Life.

“Nobody wants to be here over Christmas, not us, not the prisoners,” said Juan.

The couple met at work in 2005 while serving as prison officers at HMP Prison Feltham in South London.

“We were one short and so I needed to borrow a staff member off the unit and it just so happened to be Lisa,” said Juan.

“Worst decision of my life that,” she joked.

In 2017, the couple decided to relocate to Wrexham after climbing the ranks, where they now live with their four young children.

Juan works in the gym department as physical education instructor, facilitating classes for the 2,000 prisoners who are incarcerated at HMP Berwyn, as well as members of staff.

Lisa is the highest-ranking uniformed member of staff and is in charge of overseeing the running of the prison, which includes hospital escorts and dealing with incidents.

But balancing work and family life is no easy operation with long hours.

“It’s not a nine to five, Monday to Friday job unfortunately, it’s a 365, 24/7 job,” said Juan, speaking from the prison.

“With both of us working in the service, we have that understanding that bank holidays and key dates like Christmas and Easter, there is a need to work.”

Lisa worked last Christmas, but this year Juan has drawn the short straw and will be headed into work at around 8.30am after opening presents.

“I’m working this Christmas but for me it’s OK because I only come in for the morning,” he said.

Juan’s presence at work is required to oversee the Christmas morning park run, an activity which he pioneered four or five years ago.

The Leader: The run is open to both prisoners with enhanced privileges and members of staff (Collect/PA Real Life)The run is open to both prisoners with enhanced privileges and members of staff (Collect/PA Real Life) (Image: (Collect/PA Real Life))“The idea actually comes from my mum who has done over 300 park runs,” he said.

“She said, I think they do one in a prison somewhere, so we decided to have a look. It’s really taken off.

“Our first run we had 13 runners and now the most we’ve had is 205.”

The run, which takes place every week, is open to both prisoners with enhanced privileges and members of staff.

“I think that gives prisoners a bit of escapism and normality,” said Lisa.

“You know, nobody wants to be away from their loved ones throughout the festive period.”

If all goes well, Juan should be home in time for lunch and helping cook Christmas dinner.

While Lisa will be spending Christmas at home this year, she is scheduled to do a night shift on New Year’s Day from 7pm to 7am.